An action-packed summer of fun has been planned for families in Newcastle city centre with a range of free events on offer from Quayside fitness classes to open-air film screenings.
Newcastle business improvement district, NE1, has once again put together its 'Summer in the City' events programme featuring more than 135 free events and activities for the whole family to enjoy on the Quayside and at Old Eldon Square.
Over 30,000 people enjoyed last year’s activities and this year NE1 has brought back the firm favourites as well as offering exciting new additions to the events programme, which aims to show the city in its best light.
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Highlights include a trip to the top of Grey's Monument to admire the view and a tour of the Victoria Tunnel to learn more about Newcastle's history. Meanwhile, youngsters will be able to let their imaginations run wild at fun storytelling sessions led by Seven Stories and Live Theatre.
And for families who want to burn off steam, a range of fitness classes will take place on the Quayside ranging from Zumba to HIIT. The chance to zip wire across the Tyne is also on offer once again this year and will be the only activity participants have to pay for on the programme.
Rachel Barlow, marketing and events manager at NE1 Ltd, said: "We’re tremendously excited and proud to be launching this year’s Summer in the City programme to give people of all ages something free to enjoy and to look forward to during the school summer holidays, and to know that every day there will be something different happening in the heart of Newcastle.
“We have put together an enormous programme of over 135 events, which caters for people of all ages and abilities, it is the biggest and best yet. We have returning favourites including fitness classes and story-telling, as well as exciting new activities, from belly dancing to Bollywood and so much more.
"There’s so much to do in Newcastle this summer and we hope people will sign up to enjoy the fun.”
All activities need to be booked and details, including timings and locations are listed at www.ne1summerinthecity.co.uk
Let's take a look at some of this year’s Summer in the City highlights:
Zip wire from the Tyne Bridge
Back by popular demand for three weekends over the summer, is the adrenaline-fuelled, zip wire from the Tyne Bridge.
You can book to take the leap and see the city from a completely different perspective while suspended on a zipline over the Tyne, landing on the Newcastle side of the Quayside.
This is the only paid-for activity in NE1’s whole Summer in the City programme and has been organised by Jelly Legs It will take place on the following weekends:
- Friday, August 18
- Saturday, August 19
- Friday, August 25
- Saturday, August 26
- Friday, September 1
- Saturday, September 2
Climb to the top of Grey's Monument
Ever wondered what the view looks like from the top of Grey's Monument? Well, lucky visitors will be able to see for themselves if they book a tour to climb up the city's iconic landmark during a special open day on Saturday, July 29.
Explore Victoria Tunnel
Visitors will get the opportunity to step back in time this summer during a tour of the Victoria Tunnel, which provided shelter for Newcastle residents during the air raids of World War II. The preserved 19th-century waggonway was originally built to transport coal to the River Tyne, and stretches all the way from the Town Moor to the riverside.
Tales on the Tyne
This summer sees the welcome return of the popular weekly storytelling sessions called Tales on the Tyne which are held at 11am each Wednesday on the Quayside. Working with Seven Stories, NE1 is bringing back the storytelling sessions that were popular with families last year.
Free fitness classes on Quayside
A series of free exercise classes will be held on the Quayside ranging from Zumba to HIIT.
The City Baths will be running an Age Well programme, offering keep fit and movement classes, while Pure Gym will get the heart racing and blood pumping with their High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) body combat and pilates sessions.
Dance City City will also be running a range of dance and movement classes including belly dancing and break dancing. Dance City chief executive and artistic director Anand Bhatt will be getting involved personally and teaching live Bollywood classes.
Children's storytelling workshop
Live Theatre will be hosting an imaginative storytelling workshop for children called 'Story Inventors.’
This will see youngsters aged five plus create their own original stories and ideas using props.
Quayside activities for children
Throughout the summer, NE1 will be working with ‘Let’s Party Events North East’ to create a range of family-friendly events and activities.
New ‘Little Attenborough Sessions’ will teach kids about animals and the environment and a teddy bears picnic will take place on the Quayside. Kids Party Takeovers will also be held every other Saturday featuring creative fun, music and visits from princesses, superheroes and comic characters.
Watch a film at Old Eldon Square
Families will be able to watch films for free on the big screen at Old Eldon Square throughout the school holidays starting on Monday, July 24. The screen is currently showing all the live sporting action from Wimbledon and will remain in place until September 3.
A new addition this year will be Toddler Takeovers on Tuesdays, which will see the National Centre for Children’s Books, Seven Stories, host a weekly event at Screen on the Green, starting at 10.30am starting on July 25. Designed for toddlers and young children, the interactive and immersive sessions will feature a toddler-friendly short film with a Seven Stories storyteller reading the book as an accompaniment.
An interactive exhibition for children called Play Rebellion will also be at Old Eldon Square for children to explore.
